Frequently Asked Questions – Diabetes Educator Program

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Frequently Asked Questions – Diabetes Educator Program

What is Diabetes?Diabetes is a condition in which the body either cannot produce insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. If it is left untreated or improperly managed, the high levels of blood sugar associated with diabetes can slowly damage both the small and large blood vessels in the body, resulting in a variety of complications.

What does a Diabetes Educator do?
Diabetes Educators partner with patients and their families to teach diabetes self-management and help patients gain control of their disease.

Why become a Diabetes Educator?The combination of an aging population and the rapidly escalating incidence of diabetes is increasing the global demand for Diabetes Educators. Since the 1920’s, education has been recognized as key to the management of diabetes. Health professionals working in diabetes education are experts not only in the disease state, but also in teaching and behavior change. The role of the Diabetes Educator has grown from being an “expert” giving out information, to one of “facilitator”, helping people with diabetes to manage the disease themselves.

Will completing this program make me a Certified Diabetes Educator?
While this certificate program will equip you with the skills and knowledge to work as a diabetes educator, graduating from this program does not make you a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE). To become certified in Canada, you must pass an exam administered by the Canadian Diabetes Educator Certification Board (CDECB).

For more information on taking the CDE Exam, please visit the CDECB website atwww.cdecb.ca

Will this course prepare me to write the Canadian Diabetes Educator Certification Exam?Michener’s Diabetes Educator Certificate Program reflects the competencies as described in the Canadian Diabetes Educator Certification Board (CDECB) Handbook and as such will help educators prepare to write the Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) Exam with the CDECB.

For more information on taking the CDE Exam, please visit the CDECB website atwww.cdecb.ca

Can I complete this course while working full time?Yes. We estimate that you will need to dedicate 3-4 hours a week to study and assignments. You are also required to participate in a two day workshop during the course, running Saturday and Sunday. You will have the opportunity to choose from several workshop dates.

How much professional experience do I need to be eligible for the program?We expect applicants to have worked in professional patient care for a minimum of two years out of the last five years.

I have been a caregiver for a relative with diabetes. Does this count as patient care experience?No. The Diabetes Educator Certificate is designed for working health professionals with a degree or diploma in a regulated health profession, who routinely interact with patients to provide treatment, counseling and education about disease processes and healthcare issues.

I have not worked in patient care for several years. Can I still apply?If you have not worked in professional patient care within the last five years, you are not eligible to apply for the program.

My professional college does not issue registration cards anymore. How can I provide proof of my professional registration?If your professional college does not issue registration cards, please print your registration details from the college’s website and submit with your application.

For example, if you are registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario, use their ‘Find a Nurse’ function to look yourself up and print the details provided there.

My degree and/or my professional registration were obtained in a country other than Canada. Is this acceptable?Your qualifications and professional registration or license to practice do not need to be Canadian. We welcome students with international experience in the Diabetes Educator Certificate Program, and regulated health professionals living outside Canada are welcome to apply. Please visit the international admissions page for more information.

If you live inside Canada you must be registered and licensed with a regulatory body in Canada in order to be eligible for the program.

How will I find out whether I have been accepted into the program?You will be notified via email. If you have not received a response to your application within a reasonable period of time, please check your junk mail to ensure that a response from Michener has not been filtered as spam.

Please note,we consider it the applicant’s responsibility to follow up on their application. If Michener issues you an offer of admission or a request for further information, and you do not respond before the registration deadline, you risk losing your place in the program.

If you believe your application has not been received or assessed please contact Michenerbeforethe course start date. If we do not hear from you before the course commences, we cannot offer you a place.

Is there a difference between theapplicationdeadline and theregistrationdeadline?Yes. The application deadline is the date and time by which applications for admission to the Diabetes Educator Certificate Program must be received by Michener’s Registrar’s Office.

The registration deadline is the date and time by whichsuccessfulapplicants must officially enroll in the program and pay the relevant course fees. You will be advised of the registration deadline in your offer of admission.

The application deadline has passed. Can I still apply?No. Applications that are received after the application deadline will not be assessed.

Can I transfer to a later session of the program?If you are registered for the Diabetes Educator Certificate and would like to transfer to the next session of the program, you may do sobeforethe course start date. Transfers are not permitted after the course has commenced.

What if I want to withdraw from the program?If you are registered in the program and decide to withdrawbeforethe course start date, a refund will be issued minus $75. No refund will be issued should you choose to withdraw after the program has commenced.